anteriorsegment

The anterior segment of the eye refers to the front part of the eyeball, situated between the posterior surface of the cornea and the anterior surface of the vitreous humor. It is filled with a transparent fluid called aqueous humor, which nourishes the cornea and lens and maintains intraocular pressure. Key structures within the anterior segment include the cornea, the iris, the ciliary body, and the lens. The cornea, a transparent outer layer, refracts light entering the eye. The iris, a pigmented muscular diaphragm, controls the size of the pupil, regulating the amount of light that reaches the retina. The ciliary body includes muscles that alter the shape of the lens for focusing and produces the aqueous humor. The lens, a transparent biconvex structure, further refracts light to focus it precisely on the retina. Diseases and conditions affecting the anterior segment can impair vision and include infections, inflammation (uveitis), glaucoma (often related to issues with aqueous humor drainage), and corneal dystrophies. Examination of the anterior segment is a crucial part of a comprehensive eye examination, often performed using a slit lamp to visualize its structures in detail.